Browse Items (22 total)

The One-derful label complex (One-derful, M-Pac, Mar-V-lus, Midas, Halo, Toddlin' Town) represented mostly the harder gospelly style of Chicago soul…

The company was established in August 1946 by Chicago-born businessman Lee L. Egalnick (1921-2000).[1][2] It released records by musicians including…

38th and Michigan Avenue (basement of a tavern) Pershing Ballroom--3851 S. Michigan; also at Eighth Regiment Armory at 3519 S. Giles; also at Ritz…

Jazz Alley

Starting back in the 1950s, the Alley was a sprawling weekly party in Bronzeville where people of all ages came together to hang out, exchange ideas,…

The most famous of these Drag Balls were the first Finnie’s balls, the first of which occurred in 1935 and was organized by a Black gay street hustler…

Parrot Records was Deejay Al Benson's second record company venture after his first failed. Although the company failed as a commercial enterprise, it…

Club De Lisa

Club DeLisa (2 Locations), was one of Chicago's most famous "black and tans," interracial clubs during the Jim Crow era. The venue was open 25…

Cafe de Champion

One of the first "black and tans" in Chicago owned by Jack Johnson, the world's first African American heavyweight boxing champion. The club had a…

One of Chicago's famous queer cabarets, the Cabin Inn (or Cozy Cabin Inn) opened in Bronzeville in 1933 just south of the World's Fair grounds. Owned…

(The) Forum

The Forum is a beautiful 1897 social and assembly hall at the corner of 43rd and Calumet adjacent to the 43rd Street Green Line station.

Built by…

Cafe de Champion

One of the first "black and tans" in Chicago, the Cafe de Champion was owned and managed by Jack Johnson, the world's first African American…

Regal Theater

The Regal, also known as The Avalon, was a major complex that featured films, dance, music, and comedy. The theater was a prominent entertainment…

Plantation Cafe

Also known as Tierney's Auto Inn, this venue was adjacent to the Sunset Cafe and seems to have been a part of or owned by Pershing Palace, which was…

Peking Inn Ballroom

Also known as Pekin Theater, Pekin Cafe, and Pekin Cabaret, this was said to be the first theater in Chicago to feature Black entertainment for…

Dreamland Cafe

Also known as Bottom's Dreamland Cafe, for Bill Bottom who re-opened the venue in 1917, Dreamland Cafe was part of a wave of "black & tan" cabarets…

Club De Lisa

Also known as the New Club De Lisa and the Unusual Revue, the Club DeLisa was one of Chicago's most famous "black and tans," interracial clubs that…

Cabin Inn

One of Chicago's famous queer cabaret's, the Cabin Inn (or Cozy Cabin Inn) opened in Bronzeville in 1933 just south of the World's Fair grounds. Owned…

Sunset Cafe

Critically important "black and tan" venue for interracial jazz audiences in Chicago. The building, a large garage-style structure, was declared a…

(The) Armory

This opulent art deco building, originally known as the Washington Park Armory, was built in 1931 to hold military training exercises. In 1970 the…

(The) Apex

Originally known as Club Alvadere (1920-22) and The Nest Club (1922-26), The Apex was an afterhours spot on the second floor across from the Chicago…